Even if the Penguins go on an outrageous hot streak, I still fully anticipate Dubas to sell at the deadline. He knows what he has to do. He’s not in this to grab the second wild card and lose in the first round. Dubas’ vision is much more grand than that. The problem is that fans might need to find some patience.

Kevin Hayes, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Cody Glass and Anthony Beauvillier scored for the Penguins. Alex Nedeljkovic, fresh off making history by becoming the first goalie in NHL history to score a goal and record an assist in the same game on Friday in Buffalo, stopped 25 of 26 shots to earn the victory.

The Penguins have put themselves in playoff contention,” Yohe wrote. “The improved results have not changed Dubas’ mindset. He’s going to sell. ”League sources expect the Penguins to make multiple deals.

Pittsburgh will be without their top goal-scoring forward when they take on Los Angeles, who will play their first home game since the onset of the wildfires

The Pittsburgh Penguins had lost seven consecutive games to Edmonton before Thursday evening. They had been outscored in those games, 37-9, and might have been outplayed even more than those numbers suggest.

In a way, you might say that Rickard Rakell won the Jake Guentzel trade. It didn’t take very long for Rakell to fill the opening for Sidney Crosbys

Not just pending free agents, but all big name players in play.

It was a large contributing factor for why the Pens missed the playoffs in 2023, despite a monstrous season from Crosby. While the team performed adequately at 5v5, a lack of power play goals cost was a major factor in missing the playoffs last year.

Dubas has his hands full to improve a Penguins team that looks an awful lot like it did during the last two seasons.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are continuing to battle for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but likely will be sellers at the deadline.

- In other news, forward Cody Glass - who was injured during the first period in the Penguins' 4-2 loss against the Seattle Kraken - was back at practice on Thursday after missing the team's practice on Wednesday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are a team in transition. The dynasty (2007 to 2022) that saw three Stanley Cup championships and 16 consecutive playoff appearances is a thing of the past.